| 364th Fighter Group | |
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Emblem of the 364th Fighter Group, later used by the 131st Fighter Group (1950s 131st FG version shown above) |
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| Active | 1942–1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Force |
The 364th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces, being stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945.
During World War II the group was an Eighth Air Force fighter unit stationed in England. Assigned to RAF Honington in early 1944. It flew 342 combat missions and claimed 256 air and 193 ground aircraft destroyed. It flew its last mission on 6 May 1945.
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Organized and trained in California during 1943. Moved to England in January 1944, being assigned to VIII Fighter Command.
The 364th FG flew escort, dive-bombing, strafing, and patrol missions in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. At first the group operated primarily as escort for B-17/B-24 Liberator heavy bombers.
The group patrolled the English Channel during the Normandy invasion in June 1944, and, while continuing escort operations, supported ground forces in France after the invasion by strafing and bombing locomotives, marshalling yards, bridges, barges, and other targets.
Converted from P-38's to P-51 Mustang's in the summer of 1944 and from then until the end of the war flew many long-range escort missions heavy bombers that attacked oil refineries, industries, and other strategic objectives at Berlin, Regensburg, Merseburg, Stuttgart, Brussels, and elsewhere. The 364th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for an escort mission on 27 December 1944 when the group dispersed a large force of German fighters that attacked the bomber formation the group was escorting on a raid to Frankfurt.
The 364th also flew air-sea rescue missions, engaged in patrol activities, and continued to support ground forces as the battle line moved through France and into Germany. Took part in the effort to invade the Netherlands by air, September 1944; the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945; and the assault across the Rhine, March 1945.
Although the last mission by the 364th took place on 25 April 1945, the group did not depart until November, returning to Camp Kilmer New Jersey for deactivation.
Redesignated 131st Fighter Group. Allotted to Missouri Air National Guard on 24 May 1946.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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